Trump is the New GOP

[D_Master81]

Sadly the more I think about it, just b/c Trump leaves office, whether by impeachment/resignation, defeat in 2020 or God forbid after 8 years, he isnt leaving. Oh he himself may be gone, but what he has created will be around for years to come after he leaves. GOP Senate wannabes here in Indiana are starting to use his trick of naming their opponent, whether it's "Tax hike Mike", "Fraud Todd" or "Liberal Luke" they all have a name. And you can bet they will govern like him in the future. The fringe base has wanted an a-hole leader that is tough and sticks it to the Dems and media for years. He's their wet dream and will get mimicked for years to come. Sadly, once Trump leaves the only difference may be there will be a more competent a-hole, who doesnt crap all over twitter on a daily basis.

[lpbk2713]

1. Our future relies on the Parkland students more than some of us realize.

As long as they keep speaking out there is still a ray of hope.

[welivetotreadonkings]

2. "The fringe base has wanted an a-hole leader that is tough and sticks it to the Dems...for years"

This sums it up exactly. The Republican base doesn't care if their wages remain stagnant, their safety net gets decimated, their children go to underfunded schools, and their grandchildren live in a world where climate change makes many parts of the planet uninhabitable, so long as they know there are liberals out there getting "triggered."

And your assessment is absolutely correct, even after Trump is gone, the GOP has allowed its most vile authoritarian tendencies to take total control of the party apparatus.

[Garrett78]

3. Trump is a symptom, a monster of the GOP's making.

Trump is the product of 5 decades' worth of Southern Strategy (which has been applied all over the US) and Moral Majority, The Powell Memo and a highly successful campaign against supposed "liberal media" (resulting in a mainstream media that promotes false equivalencies and isn't willing to label facts as facts and falsehoods as falsehoods, instead suggesting that all statements are equally valid opinions).

For most of the Republican powers that be, the only thing disturbing about Trump is that he's so overtly egregious. But the bulk of the GOP base adores Trump, so Republicans in Congress can't risk alienating that base. It is to be determined how much that will hurt their brand, but I think it's fair to say they will continue to rely heavily upon voter suppression and gerrymandering.

Trump is especially offensive, but the GOP has been morally bankrupt since Eisenhower left office.